The PhD Life Coach

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!Changing plans can feel daunting, especially when you’re committed to a specific path and you’re not sure what is the “right” decision. In this episode, we dive into why it’s so hard to shift gears, why adaptability is essential for success, and how to navigate change without losing momentum. You'll also hear about a major update I’m making to my membership programme—offering insights that could inspire your own big decisions. Whether you’re rethinking your PhD research goals or looking to build resilience in your everyday life, this episode is packed with practical tips and real-world examples to help you embrace change with confidence.Links I refer to in this episode How to make decisions that you loveHow to go from idea overload to clarity****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I coach Swagata, a PhD student navigating the intense overwhelm and exhaustion of her final months of writing up. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of looming deadlines, struggled to balance rest with productivity, or found yourself trapped in guilt for taking a break, this episode is for you.What’s inside this episode?✨ The challenges of finishing a PhD – Swagata shares her honest experience of overwork, guilt around resting, and feeling like her energy isn’t enough to meet the demands of writing up.✨ Practical time-management strategies – Together, we explore actionable ways to organise her time effectively, so she can focus on what truly matters without burning out.✨ Reframing unhelpful thoughts – I help Swagata identify and challenge thought patterns that are making her PhD journey more painful than it needs to be, offering insights that can help you, too.This episode is packed with relatable struggles and realistic solutions for any PhD student feeling overwhelmed. You’ll gain practical tips to ease your workload and mindset shifts to approach your final months with more clarity and confidence.👉 Listen now to discover how to tackle overwork, embrace rest guilt-free, and finish your PhD without sacrificing your well-being.****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I make a feisty case for why we should ban highlighters! I’ll give you four reasons they’re not helping you and tell you what you should be doing instead. Forward this to all your favourite stationery-obsessed friends! ****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Andrew Dewar from Oxygen Conservation to explore how we can build more positive, motivational environments in academia using insights from sports psychology.We dive into strategies for fostering recovery, supporting each other, and creating climates that inspire students and supervisors alike. Learn how to:Create a supervisory relationship that cares for both the people involved AND academic performanceBoost autonomy, competence, and connection in your academic life.Apply proven techniques from sports psychology to reduce stress and enhance performance.Whether you’re a PhD student striving for balance or a supervisor aiming to better support your team, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in academia.🎧 Tune in to discover how you can contribute to something bigger while achieving your personal and professional goals.Links I refer to in this episode Dr Andrew Dewar (LinkedIn) Oxygen ConservationAndrew’s podcast episode – From Hire to High PerformanceRadical Candor by Cal NewportSo good they can’t ignore you by Cal NewportStephen Covey’s Circle of Influence****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, we’re diving into a common trap many PhD students and academics fall into: setting word count goals like “500 words a day” or “6,000 words by next month.” While these goals sound productive, they often oversimplify the complex process of academic writing.I’ll explain why relying on word count as a measure of progress can hinder your motivation and overlook crucial aspects of writing, such as revising, outlining, and refining ideas. Most importantly, I’ll share smarter, more effective ways to track your progress and keep your writing on track without feeling overwhelmed.If you’re struggling to stay motivated with your thesis, dissertation, or academic papers, this episode is here to help you rethink how you approach writing. Tune in to make meaningful progress without getting stuck in the word count trap!Perfect for PhD students, early career researchers, and anyone navigating academic writing challenges.Links I refer to in this episode Why you shouldn’t read when you’re writingHow to plan your academic writing (with special guest Dr Jo Van Every)How to break your work down into chunks****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I answer three thought-provoking questions from PhD students and graduates:Handling Final-Year DisappointmentA PhD student asks how to cope with the sense of disappointment that can arise in the final year when you realise your initial goals and ambitions have had to be scaled back. I explain why this is actually a good sign and how to use this understanding to motivate yourself to move forwards.Staying Motivated Post-PhDCharlotte, a member of my coaching programme, seeks advice on self-coaching as she works on writing papers post-PhD, with no pressing deadlines or external accountability. I explore ways to find intrinsic motivation and structure this next phase of her academic journey.Making the Most of PodcastsSophie enjoys listening to podcasts while multitasking but struggles with taking notes or fully engaging with the content. I offer tips for integrating podcasts into her routine more effectively to maximise their value.This episode is packed with practical advice for navigating common challenges in your academic journey and beyond.Links I refer to in this episode How to go from idea overload to clarity  ****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!In this episode, I share a fresh approach to planning for PhD students and academics that doesn’t rely on perfection. If you’ve ever felt like planning isn’t for you because you “never stick to it,” this episode is for you. We’ll explore imperfect planning: creating flexible time structures that make it easy to pick back up after things go off track.Tune in to learn:Why expecting perfection derails most plansHow to make plans that support your goals without guiltSimple tips for sticking with your goals in a flexible, realistic wayPerfect for anyone balancing research, deadlines, and the unpredictable journey of PhD life!Links I refer to in this episode How to use role-based time-blockingHow to plan when you hate planning ****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Dr. Jessica Parker, founder of MoxieLearn, combines her skepticism and advocacy for AI in academia to offer invaluable insights. She discusses the practical benefits and pitfalls of AI tools for PhD students, emphasizing both enhancement of writing skills and the risk of academic dishonesty. The conversation dives into the role of chatbots in education, promoting metacognition while tackling feedback dynamics. Ultimately, Parker advocates for responsible AI use, highlighting the necessity of maintaining an authentic voice and critical engagement in research.

Feeling overwhelmed by a flood of ideas? Discover a fresh approach to journaling that prioritizes voice recording for spontaneity and clarity. The discussion dives into practical tools, including a voice-to-text system that simplifies capturing thoughts. Collaboration is encouraged, with invitations for listeners to join free coaching sessions. Say goodbye to mental clutter and hello to organized insights!

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!Do you struggle to get back into work after a big deadline? Have issues connecting with your supervisor? Or feel like you don’t even know whether your work is good enough or not? Then this episode is for you! In my second client Q&A episode, I answer three questions from listeners on these topics and give actionable advice if you find yourself in these situations. I even give a little controversial advice to supervisors so make sure you listen out for that too! Links I refer to in this episode What to do if you want more reassuranceHow to manage your supervisor or bossHow to have a great relationship with your supervisorWhat to do and think if you have a toxic relationship with your supervisorHow to improve your writing ****I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464 I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.